Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Biography of Ahmad Qabel: crossing redlines; 2. Jurisprudence: rational Shariah; 3. History: the faces of Imam Hosayn; 4. Politics: Qabel's view of Velayat-e Faqih; 5. Gender: women's rights; 6. Apostasy and freedom of religion; 7. Society: the role of Islam in society; 8. Reason and superstition; Conclusion.

Promotional Information

An original examination of the writings of reformist Muslim thinker, Ahmad Qabel, whose work sought to rationalise and modernise Islamic law.

About the Author

Lloyd Ridgeon is Reader in Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow. He has published much on medieval Persian Sufism, including Awhad al-Din Kirmani and the Controversy of the Sufi Gaze (2018). He also has a keen interest in modern Iran, as reflected in his publication Hijab (2021). He is also the chief editor of the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.

Reviews

'This absorbing, carefully researched book provides an unparalleled account of the life, legacy, and intellectual development of Ahmad Qabel. Drawing on an array of primary sources, Lloyd Ridgeon has demonstrated a high level of mastery, adding immensely to our understanding of the religious reform movement.' Naser Ghobadzadeh, Australian Catholic University
'Ahmad Qabel was one of the most daring dissident Islamic jurists of post-revolutionary Iran. Prominent but unable to publish in Iran, virtually unknown outside his country. The first systematic study of Qabel's ideas and writings, Ridgeon's excellent, engaging exposition locates them in the context of Iranian reformist thought within the clerical intellectual tradition.' Ziba Mir-Hosseini, SOAS, University of London
'This book, tracing the lesser-known trends in contemporary Iranian intellectual history, stands out as an original inspiration to give a relatively obscure jurist-reformer an honorary standing in the line of influential jurists of Iran. Ridgeon makes it self-evident that Qabel deserves to be introduced to the Western audience as one of the most serious religious voices of young reformers.' Abdulaziz Sachedina, George Mason University
'Lloyd Ridgeon has brilliantly captured the thoughts of Ahmed Qabel, a reformist Muslim thinker who has received scant attention in the West. Qabel's views on the rationalist Shariah are especially illuminating and compelling. The book will be of great benefit to all scholars of contemporary Islam, especially those interested in an Islamic reformation.' Liyakat Takim, McMaster University